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eLECTIONS State Standards - Montana


MONTANA SEA HOMEPAGE

MONTANA CONTENT STANDARDS ALL (Access Social Studies Content Standards through keyword search box.)


Social studies is an integrated study of the social sciences and humanities designed to foster citizenship in an interdependent world. Social studies provides coordinated, systematic study of such disciplines as economics, history, geography, government, sociology, anthropology, psychology and elements of the humanities.

Social studies addresses political, economic, geographic, and social processes that allow students to make informed decisions for personal and public good.

Social studies develops the knowledge, skills, and processes necessary to understand historical and present day connections among diverse individuals and groups. A study of Montana's rich past and geographic diversity includes the distinct cultural heritage and contemporary perspectives of Montana's American Indians and other cultural groups.

Content Standards indicate what all students should know, understand and be able to do in a specific content area. Benchmarks define our expectations for students' knowledge, skills and abilities along a developmental continuum in each content area. That continuum is focused at three points-at the end of grade 4, the end of grade 8, and grade 12.

Content Standard 2
Students analyze how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance to understand the operation of government and to demonstrate civic responsibility.

Benchmarks

End of Grade 8
  1. identify and describe basic features of the political system in the United States and identify representative leaders from various levels (e.g. local, state, tribal, federal, branches of government).
  2. identify and explain the basic principles of democracy (e.g. Bill of Rights, individual rights, common good, equal opportunity, equal protection of the laws, majority rule.
End of Grade 12
  1. analyze the historical and contemporary purpose of government and how the powers of government are acquired, modified, justified and used (e.g. checks and balances, Bill of Rights, court decisions).
  2. compare and contrast various world political systems (e.g. ideologies, structure, institutions) with that of the United States.
  3. identify representative political leaders and philosophies from selected historical and contemporary settings.
  4. analyze the effectiveness of various systems of government to protect the rights and needs of citizens and balance competing conceptions of a just society.